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Denver is one of the few big metros where starter homes are easier to find than in 2019. Starter-priced homes made up 31.6% of active listings in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro in August 2026, up from 29.1% in 2019 and 25.4% in 2022, Realtor.com reported on October 30. Across the U.S., the share fell from 38.1% to 36.2%. Denver's 2.5-point gain ranks fifth among the 100 largest metros. For buyers shopping starter homes in Denver, Aurora and Lakewood, that means more choices than in 2019 or 2022.
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31.6% Denver metro starter-home share, 2026 Up from 29.1% in 2019, Realtor.com | 36.2% U.S. starter-home share, August 2026 Down from 38.1% in 2019 |
3,520 Homes listed at $450,000 or less, 10 metro cities kennarealestate.com, Nov. 2, 2026 | $1,772 Denver metro median rent, July 2026 Down 3.0% from a year ago, Realtor.com |
What the Realtor.com starter-home report says
Realtor.com counts a home as starter-priced when it is listed at or below 80% of its metro's median list price. Its October 2026 starter-home analysis covers active listings in the 100 largest U.S. metros. Nationally, the starter-home price rose 30.8% since 2019, from about $260,000 to $340,000, and the starter share slipped from 38.1% to 36.2%. Most of that drop came during the 2020-2022 price run-up; the share has been flat since 2022.
| Starter-home share of active listings | August 2019 | August 2022 | August 2026 | Change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro | 29.1% | 25.4% | 31.6% | +2.5 points |
| United States | 38.1% | 36.3% | 36.2% | -1.9 points |
Denver's rebound is the story: its share fell to 25.4% in 2022, then climbed 6.2 points in four years as Colorado inventory piled up and price cuts spread. Denver still sits 4.6 points below the national share, so the headline is "gaining ground," not "cheapest in the country."
| Biggest starter-share gains since 2019 | Change |
|---|---|
| Boise, ID | +4.7 points |
| Portland, OR | +4.0 points |
| Des Moines, IA | +3.7 points |
| San Jose, CA | +2.9 points |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | +2.5 points |
The highest starter shares in 2026 belong to Toledo, OH (42.1%), St. Louis (40.7%) and Detroit (39.8%). Nationally, condos and townhomes grew from 18.0% to 27.1% of starter-priced listings since 2019. Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones said condos and townhomes "are quietly becoming an increasingly important entry point to homeownership."
Starter-priced homes for sale in the Denver metro today
Active listings on kennarealestate.com on November 2, 2026, at $450,000 or less. This is a simple price cutoff for comparison, not Realtor.com's 80%-of-median method.
| City | All homes for sale | $450,000 or less | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 3,652 | 1,519 | 41.6% |
| Aurora | 1,861 | 992 | 53.3% |
| Littleton | 822 | 232 | 28.2% |
| Lakewood | 409 | 169 | 41.3% |
| Thornton | 407 | 161 | 39.6% |
| Commerce City | 318 | 106 | 33.3% |
| Arvada | 502 | 102 | 20.3% |
| Westminster | 307 | 97 | 31.6% |
| Englewood | 265 | 90 | 34.0% |
| Centennial | 273 | 52 | 19.0% |
| 10 cities | 8,816 | 3,520 | 39.9% |
Most of them are condos and townhomes. Of the 3,520 homes listed at $450,000 or less, 1,835 are condos (average 103 days on market), 698 are townhomes (83 days) and 816 are single-family homes (77 days). Browse Denver condos, Denver townhomes, Aurora condos, Aurora townhomes, Lakewood condos and Lakewood townhomes, or read the Denver condo, townhome and loft guide.
Rent or buy a Denver starter home?
Realtor.com's July 2026 Rent Report put the Denver metro median rent at $1,772, down 3.0% from a year ago, and found buying a starter home costs $858 a month more than renting across the 50 largest metros. Here is the Denver math on a $450,000 example home. These are example rates for comparison, not a rate offer. Your rate comes from a lender of your choice and depends on your credit, down payment and loan type.
| $450,000 example home | Loan | Monthly principal and interest |
|---|---|---|
| 10% down, 7.24% (Freddie Mac average, Oct. 29) | $405,000 | $2,760 |
| 3.5% down, 7.24% | $434,250 | $2,959 |
| 10% down, 6.24% (a buydown example) | $405,000 | $2,491 |
Taxes, insurance and HOA dues come on top of these numbers. Renting wins on the monthly check today; buying builds equity and locks the price. Run your own numbers with the Colorado mortgage calculator, see can I afford a home now? and rent or buy in Colorado.
How this affects you
Buyers. You have more starter-priced homes to choose from than in 2022, and condos sit on the market an average of 103 days, so ask for a price cut, a rate buydown or closing-cost help. Get the HOA budget, the reserve study and the special-assessment history before you write an offer; see the Denver HOA rules and fees guide. Check CHFA down payment assistance, the Denver first-time buyer programs, FHA-eligible homes in Denver and homes with assumable mortgages. Start with a pre-approval and the first-time buyer guide.
Sellers. If you own a condo or townhome under $450,000, you compete with 2,533 others in these 10 cities. Price to the last 90 days of sales, not last spring's list prices, and offer a concession a buyer can use on the payment. Read how seller concessions work in Colorado and start with a home value report.
Move-up owners. More starter homes for sale means more competition when you sell the first home, and more buyers able to step into it. Sell and buy in the right order; see the Denver real estate statistics for the current numbers.
What to watch out for
- HOA dues count. A $350 monthly HOA payment cuts what you qualify for by about $50,000 at today's rates.
- Special assessments. Ask for the last two years of HOA minutes. Roof, siding and insurance costs land on owners.
- FHA and VA condo approval. Not every complex is approved. Check before you fall for the unit.
- Metro district taxes. Many newer townhome communities carry a metro district mill levy. Ask for it.
- Inspection. Inspect the unit and ask what the HOA covers: roof, exterior, water heater, sewer line.
Sources: Realtor.com, Denver starter-home story, Oct. 30, 2026; Realtor.com starter-home metros analysis, Oct. 2026; Realtor.com July 2026 Rent Report; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Oct. 29, 2026; kennarealestate.com active listings, Nov. 2, 2026.
Denver starter homes for sale
Newest starter-priced listings in Denver on kennarealestate.com, updated daily.
